Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Ann Arbor, MI make a median of $117,040 a year, or about $56.27 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $181K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.88), that's roughly $116,019 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,656/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $117K get you in Ann Arbor?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ann Arbor’s Regional Price Parity (100.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Ann Arbor
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Ann Arbor runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,656/month, 23.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Ann Arbor can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer hardware engineers in metros near Ann Arbor, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $130K | $130K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $106K | $111K |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $121K | $131K |
| Madison | $82K | $84K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ann Arbor, MI
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $117K. Top earners bring in $181K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Hardware Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $185K | +14% | 19,820 |
| Washington | $169K | +5% | 1,800 |
| Massachusetts | $168K | +4% | 3,150 |
| New Mexico | $165K | +2% | 5,260 |
| Texas | $164K | +1% | 7,390 |
| New York | $163K | +1% | 3,020 |
| District of Columbia | $163K | +1% | 210 |
| Hawaii | $160K | -1% | 90 |
| Arizona | $158K | -2% | 3,110 |
| Colorado | $156K | -3% | 2,660 |
| Maryland | $153K | -6% | 1,720 |
| New Jersey | $143K | -12% | 580 |
| Virginia | $139K | -14% | 1,720 |
| Alabama | $137K | -15% | 680 |
| Delaware | $136K | -16% | 30 |
| Nebraska | $135K | -17% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $135K | -17% | 1,340 |
| Minnesota | $134K | -17% | 770 |
| Florida | $134K | -17% | 3,290 |
| Illinois | $133K | -18% | 1,420 |
| Idaho | $132K | -19% | 920 |
| Tennessee | $131K | -19% | N/A |
| New Hampshire | $129K | -20% | 310 |
| Iowa | $125K | -23% | 130 |
| South Carolina | $125K | -23% | 690 |
| Arkansas | $120K | -26% | 160 |
| Michigan | $120K | -26% | 1,420 |
| Rhode Island | $120K | -26% | 390 |
| Ohio | $118K | -27% | 580 |
| Nevada | $117K | -28% | 160 |
| Kentucky | $116K | -28% | 500 |
| Utah | $107K | -34% | 430 |
| Missouri | $104K | -36% | 900 |
| Kansas | $102K | -37% | 220 |
| South Dakota | $101K | -37% | 160 |
| Georgia | $100K | -38% | 650 |
| Indiana | $98K | -39% | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $96K | -41% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -48% | 270 |
| Louisiana | $84K | -48% | 270 |
| Mississippi | $78K | -52% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ann Arbor numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ann Arbor?
Yes — at the median salary of $117K, rent takes 23.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,656/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Ann Arbor?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,980/month. At HUD’s $1,656/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Ann Arbor?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $117K here vs. $162K nationally.
How does Ann Arbor compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Ann Arbor pays $117K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median is $117,040 a year, that works out to about $56 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,000, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $180,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $117K enough to live in Ann Arbor?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,146/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,656/month, which eats 23.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer hardware engineers salary go in Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor has a Regional Price Parity of 100.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer hardware engineers salary is worth about $116,019 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer hardware engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.